Rangers Star Goalie Igor Shesterkin's Contract Demands Reportedly Surge Past $12 Million

Igor Shesterkin, the starting goalie for the New York Rangers and a pending unrestricted free agent, declined a record breaking extension offer of $88 million with an $11 million AAV earlier this month.

There have been rumours that Shesterkin and his team were requesting at least $12 million a year since rejecting the initial offer. But according to recent reports from Jim Biringer of rg.org, the star goalie for the New York Rangers is asking for more money, possibly as much as a massive $12.5 million.

Shesterkin wants to be the highest paid Ranger, and $12 million is just over Rangers teammate Artemi Panarin's yearly salary of $11,642,857.

The current contract of Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid would be equal to Shesterkin's if he were to reach $12.5 million. Although McDavid currently has the third-highest AAV in the NHL, he is eligible for an extension at the end of the 2024-25 campaign. The Montreal Canadiens star Carey Price, who agreed to an eight-year contract worth $10.5 million a year, currently holds the record for goaltenders.

The Rangers might be forced to pay up because he demonstrates why he is worth every penny each time he takes the ice. Shesterkin has a 139-60-18 record, .921 save percentage, 2.42 goals against average, and 16 shutouts in 219 career games. He is off to a scorching start in 2024-25 after winning the Vezina Trophy in 2022 as the NHL's best goalie.